Nigerians Should Concentrate More On Emotional Health-Dr. Olufunmilayo

Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it.

Concerning PTSD, a trained psychiatrist, Dr. Olufunmilayo Akinola said, It is time Nigerians start talking more about emotional health.

Speaking as a guest on the programme “Today on STV” she stated that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder should be focused on because of the things that are going on now, in places like Jos, Middle belt, Kaduna, which results in emotional issues.

She stated further that, it is a disorder that occurs when an individual had undergone a traumatic experience, and the symptoms could start around three months, a month, and in some cases years.

Talking about symptoms, Dr. Olufunmilayo placed more concern about the people in the IDP camp. She said it could start from a smell, nightmare, inability to sleep, with a relieving experience, recounting what had happen.

The aspect of hormones which play a vital role in the discussion surfaced as she revealed that in situations where by the body is not constantly at alert because of what such person has passed through, the person will be under a lot of stress because the stress hormones comes up when it is needed and goes down which makes victims at alert.

As for prevention, Dr. Olujfunmilayo said it differs from persons to persons, emphasising that some people have better mechanisms than others and some people have good social support from their family to help them regain consciousness.

She said, there are protective factors for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, recommending that sleep, good hygiene, exercise are good for prevention.